West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-06-24
THE SENTIMENT IN oREENBRIER
AND MONROE.
GREENBRIER, June II.

had to converse with representa-
tive men from different portions of
each county. / feel perfectly safe
in stating that these counties over
whelmingly approve the action of
those who defeated Monopoly in the
Legislature, and are determined
that the commencement then made
shall be completed. If the nomina
tions were to occur no man who lent
himself to monopoly could by posi-
bility carry any delegates from
these counties, and l believe the
present feeling will grow more in.
tense. The people understand much
better than / thought that the de-
plorable political situation in this
State has been brought about
by men who seek office by letting
railroad officials understand that
they will not interfere with their
plans to extort the greatest amount
possible from our defenseless State.
1t seems to be equally well understood
that the representatives Of Monopo-
ly are making combinations to con-
troll the nominations in 1883, and
there is a determination not to allow
it. What was told me by one who
lives in a secluded part Of Monroe
is a good indication of the tone OF
conversation. He said. "the last
Legislature was carried by subsi-
dizing the press and by the ostra-
cism of every man who revolted
against bossism." He said, she OK
pected to see the same methods again
used, but he did not believe the peo-
pie were as ignorant as they were
then"
The plausible assertion that the
monopolists are developing the
State does not pass for argument
longer. It. is too obvious that while
a few are becoming immensely rich,
the many are not as well off as they
were. We fail to see how we are
benefited by another man getting
our property for mere pittance and
then developing it for his own profit.
Our people are walked up to the fact
that the "railroad combine" are the
only ones making any Roadway, and
that this combine" was unit to
defeat the bill offered by your dis
tinguished countyman, Col. Chew.
Let me say, in passing, that the
henchmen are more afraid of him
than any other public man in the
State, and this is why heis so strong
with the people.
1t has been said that 'history re-
peats ITSELF" This is not strictly
true, but it is true that there are
certain phases in the history of ma
tions which have so often repeated
themselves as to give the appearance
of the expression being warranted.
We know that in other nations so
long as property was distributed,
and wealth was not concentrated in
q small class, that the Government
was reasonably honest and reasona-
bly, patriotic. But when wealth be-
came concentrated, there was a gov
erning class intent only on plumber
inc those beneath them and the
laws were made so as to increase the
profits of the governing class. Mean
servility took the place of manly in
dependence and finally the govern
ing class became corrupt and merce-
nary beyond endurance. This
brought on the French revolution,
and this gave the Gracchi to Rome.
1t is wonderful how the people sub
nit to being plundered. Is it igno-
rance or it mere Incidence! Oris it
Il feeling of despair? But the spirit
of the Gracchi has always animated
some few men even in the darkest
hours, and such men have always
infused that spirit into others. l
believe that such spirit exists
more generally in West Virginia
than our bosses imagine. L believe
it only waits for leader TO give 1t
expression, and then the era of
thinking politicians is over. The
newspapers, the politicians and a
very large portion of the lawyers,a
controlled by a desire to obtain fav-
ors from the millionaires and from
the great corporations, but this fact
is becoming thoroughly understood
by the people, and those who have
usually found it easy to manipulate
the primaries and prevent discus
sion will find that the spirit of the
Gracchi has not yet entirely died
out. There is universal inclina-
ton to rally around men who have
shown themselves independent OF
railroad influence. Said one man to
me,-"Last spring when nomina-
tions for the Legislature were being
talked of Mr., Blank Ca railroad law
yer with whom / had business J
urged me not to inquire how our
candidate for the House would vote
for Senator. He said that member
of the Legislature ought not to ex-
press himself. But at that very time
the railroad attorney knew that that
candidate would certainly support
Camden. That sort of thing will not
occur again. because / intend to
question the candidate, and if he
shuffics / will vote against him,
come what may" Said another to